The Michigan Department of Education, together with other project partners, is excited to announce the 12th year of a professional learning initiative, Formative Assessment for Michigan Educators (FAME).

The primary purpose of this initiative is to establish a foundation and process that will promote teacher collaboration and planning for effective formative assessment practices in the classroom. The model relies on building a cadre of Michigan educators to serve as coaches for site-based learning teams of teachers and administrators in Michigan schools.

Through face-to-face trainings and via distance technologies (e.g., social networking, webinars, and a resource website), coaches are trained to provide job-embedded support for learning teams. Coaches work with learning teams to create a collaborative learning environment in which team members learn about, implement, and reflect on formative assessment practices in their classrooms. To be most effective, learning teams will continue their work over a three-year period, facilitated by the FAME coach.